Apparatus for exercising and developing the fingers.



No. 669,846. Patented Mar. l2, I901. J. MORATE APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING AND DEVELOPING THE FINGERS.

(Application Med Oct 1, 19003 7 No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JEAN MORAT, or tYoNs, nuance.

APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING AND DEVELUPENG THE FlNGERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,8d6, dated March 12, 1901.

Application filed October 1, 1900. Serial No. 31,702. \lio modem To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JEAN MORAT, jeweler, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at 49 Rue dela Republique, Lyons, in the Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Apparatus for Exercising and Developing the Fingers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for exercising and developing the fingers, and is designed particularly for use by persons studying the pianoforte.

Everybody who commences to study the pianoforte at whatever age recognizes how refractory the fourth finger of each hand is to speed exercises.

The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for developing the strength and flexibility of the fourth fingers without tedium or noise and quite apart from the piano in such a manner as to lessen the relative natural inertia which they have as compared with the other fingers of the hand. This result is attained by strengthening the fourth fingers and rendering them more flexible.

My improved apparatus necessitates the simultaneous employment of the fourth fingers of both hands, and it may be constructed in various manners, although all are based upon the same principle-that is to say, each of these fingers, as a result of a pressure which it produces in alternation with the other, serves to actuate the other finger.

In order that my invention may be readily understood and carried into efiect, I will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of an improved device embodying my invention, shown partly in longitudinal section on the line A B of Fig. 2; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, partly broken away.

The apparatus consists of a beam or balance f, to the extremities of which are attached with a certain amount of play, by means of stirrups t' 2', two keys at 1), similar to These keys are adapted to follow each oscillation of the beam, and consequently rise and fall with its extremities. As it is necessary that each of these keys should rise and fall perpendicularly, they are guided in their vertical displacements by means of two fixed vertical rods d, mounted upon the bottom of the box containing the device, upon which slide tubes 0, attached to the keys, or the same result may be attained in any other suitable manner. The beam f oscillates upon a transverse movable knife-edge s, which is adapted to be raised or lowered in order that by causing the angle of inclination of the beam to vary the desired play in the height of the elevation of the keys may be produced. l/Vith this object this knife-edge s is mounted by its extremities in slideways h h, Fig. 2, and is traversed at its widened portion 9 by a screw-threaded rod p, which is fixed in a hearing at its lower portion and which is caused to rotate by means of a knob r in the required direction until the knife-edge is caused to occupy the position corresponding to the height of the stroke which it is desired that the keys should have. This device is preferably inclosed in a box, with a lid .2 hinged thereto, this lid being represented in the drawings as raised. A top plate 09, fixed by its angles to uprights c of this box, conceals the internal mechanism.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: The pupil placing the fourth finger of each hand upon a key and pressing alternately upon that one which is raised will force the other key to rise, thus rendering the fourth fingers flexible. It will be understood that the pupil should by means of the finger which is rising exert a resistance to the other finger which is producing the pressure, and that consequently the greater the resistance the greater the efi'ort which will be required to overcome it. If desired, however, a suitable form of resistance may be provided for the keys, by means of springs, for example. During these exercises, which should be interrupted as soon as fatigue is experienced, the hands and the fingers other than the fourth fingers should be maintained perfectly still. In this manner the fingers rise alternately to the height for which the appliance has been set or regulated. This mechanical exercise regularly and progressively performed will produce results which are far superior to those attained by the method hitherto adopted of practice upon a piano.

Vfhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with the box or casing having a top plate, and guides secured to opposite sides of said casing, of a knife-edge adjustably mounted in said guides, a beam or balance on said knife-edge, and a key mounted on each extremity of the beam or balance and operative vertically through the top plate of the box 01- casing.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination With a vertically-adjustable beam or balance of a key connected by stirrups to each extremity of the beam or bal ance, each key having slide-tubes, and posts engaging in said tubes to guide the keys in their vertical movement.

3. In combination With a box or casing having a top plate provided with key-openings, and guides secured to opposite sides of said boX or casing, of a knife-edge mounted in said guides, means for adjusting said edge vertically, a beam or balance supported on the knife-edge, a pair of keys operating in the ceases key-openings in the top plate and connected one to each end of the beam or balance, and means Within the box or casing and operating in said keys for guiding the same in their movement, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a vertically-adjustable beam or balance, and means engaging the support of said beam or balance for adjusting the same, of a key connected to each end of said beam or balance, said keys operating under pressure alternately in their upward-and-downward movement, and means operating in said keys for guiding the same in their vertical movement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 4th day of September, 1900.

JEAN MORA'P.

Vi itnesses JEAN GERMAIN, FRANCIS GULLIET. 

